<i>about the most impressive thing other than this startup that each founder has built or achieved</i><p>Funny thing, that. I was thinking about this topic recently, as I don't feel like I've exactly "accomplished" anything worth talking about up to this point in my life (and I'm 39). But, that doesn't bother me because, the way I see it, <i>everything</i> I've done in my (adult) life up to this point has been taking steps along the path to this startup that I'm working on now. Or, to put it a different way, I've actually been building Fogbeam Labs since I was 19 or so, even though it's only existed as a legal entity for 2 years or so.<p>I'd love to hear some YC applicants chime in and share their personal "what's the most impressive thing you've done" stories. If I had to pick one for myself, I'd probably go with one of these:<p>1. I was formerly Fire Chief of a volunteer fire department, and one of the youngest people to hold that position in my area.<p>2. I was one the youngest, if not <i>the</i> youngest, Firefighting Instructors certified by the NC State Fire & Rescue Commission.<p>3. I ran for Lieutenant Governor of NC, appeared in a statewide televised debate with the other two candidates and got about 125,000 votes (roughly 3%).<p>What I can't claim is to have achieved anything specific in terms of building a previous startup or having any particular financial return, blah, blah.